The mental health of parents and children are intertwined in more ways than one. In most scenarios, the mother is the primary caretaker of the child. Her mental health becomes important for her own sake, as well as for the child. It determines a lot of factors – the child’s upbringing, the bonding between the mother and child, emotional bandwidth to look after the child’s needs, and creating a nurturing environment.
A child’s healthy development lies in the hands of both parents. Parents and children may also be exposed to shared risks such as living in unsafe environments, inherited vulnerabilities, facing discrimination, or deprivation of certain factors.
As per WHO, maternal mental health affects the overall wellness of a mother, her ability to cope with the regular stress of everyday life and engagement with her day-to-day activities. The added stress that comes with pregnancy and motherhood are common factors why women are not able to cope with other everyday pressures. Changes in physical appearance and the body, weight gain, and lack of sleep can be leading factors in unsettled mental health during pregnancy. Disturbed mental health during pre and post pregnancy not only affects the mother but the baby as well.
Dr Ruhi Satija (Consultant Psychiatrist and Counselling Therapist) explains and points out how maternal mental health can have a direct and indirect effect on the child.
Good health of the child: A mother who has the capacity to be present and provide nutrition, safety and care is the first essential need for child development. There have been cases where a mother suffering from postpartum depression or other mental health concerns has been directly or indirectly involved in negligence of the newborn. Studies show that more than 20 per cent of women in developing nations are vulnerable to postpartum depression. Not being able to provide for the child can be incredibly frustrating and the impact of this can be seen on mothers, and to an extent on the child as well.
Cognitive development: It is scientifically proven that a mother who has good communication skills and understanding can raise her child to be intellectually smart, aware, socially competent and responsible.
Emotional regulation: Children learn by observing. They do what they see, not what they are told. So, in a household with an unhealthy environment, where communication is not effective, emotions are not validated or handled well, the child will grow to become an adult who does not know how to handle their emotions.
Low resilience: A mother suffering from depression or anxiety will have her fears and insecurities, which she may unknowingly pass on to her children. Dr Ruhi explains that in many cases, anxious mothers limit the growth of their child because they are not comfortable with the exposure that is required for growth.
Behavioral patterns: Because the mother is not able to regulate her own emotions, it leads to faulty coping mechanisms in children as well. Several cases and studies have shown that children with behavioural issues have mothers suffering from mental health (short temper, addiction, impulsivity, etc).
Neurobiological development: Many studies have shown that healthy parenting and secure attachment with parents leads to a higher IQ, better problem solving skills and overall success.
Sense of self sufficiency & confidence: Growing up in a nurturing environment has a direct correlation with one’s own sense of self and capability. When you have a strong bond with your family, it becomes easier to trust your own ability as well.
Interpersonal relationships: One of the adverse effects of growing up with a mother having mental health issues is the difficulty in forming long term stable and supportive relationships. These children are often insecure, emotionally dysregulated and unavailable to their partner as adults.
Hypervigilance and insecurity: Children growing up with mothers having negative mental health are always looking for signs of what can go wrong, signs of instability or danger, which is a stress response and can cause mental health problems in children as well.